Bad news for Apple but good news for consumers.
A new deal will see a common charging port introduced for all mobile phones and other portable electronics in the European Union by 2024.
Under the provisional agreement made by EU Parliament and Council negotiators on Tuesday (7 June), consumers will no longer need a different charger when purchasing certain electronic devices.
This is as mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers that are rechargeable via a wired cable will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of the device brand.
Also, buyers under the new rules will be able to choose whether they want to purchase new electronic equipment with or without a charger.
The deal follows the European Parliament continuously calling on the Commission to table a proposal for a common charger for the past decade.
This is as part of efforts “to make products in the EU more sustainable, to reduce electronic waste and make consumers’ lives easier.”
We have a deal on the common charger! 🇪🇺
This means more savings for EU consumers and less waste for the planet:
🔌 mobile phones, tablets, cameras… will all use USB type C
🔌 harmonised fast-charging technology
🔌 unbundling of sale of chargers #SingleMarket #DigitalEU pic.twitter.com/qw2cJV4RY0— European Commission (@EU_Commission) June 7, 2022
In a statement on Tuesday, the Parliament said the new obligations will lead to more reusing of chargers, helping consumers save up to €250 million a year on unnecessary purchases.
It also stated that disposed of and unused chargers are estimated to represent about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste annually.
Following Tuesday’s deal, the Parliament and Council will have to formally approve the agreement after the summer recess before it is published in the EU Official Journal.
It will enter into force 20 days following publication and its provisions will start to apply after 24 months.
This means the rules would come into effect by Autumn 2024.
The European Parliament has said they will not apply to products placed on the market before the date of application.
It is expected, however, that the rules will cause problems for Apple, which continues to use its own-brand Lightning cables to charge its products.
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